Tuesday, October 10, 2006

A print advertisement for the Nixon-Lodge presidential campaign reads:

"It's up to you now. The speech-making is almost over, and the decision is yours. Which candidate can best keep the peace without surrender and extend freedom throughout the world? Which man understands what peace demands? Many Americans feel the real motives of the communist conspiracy were never understood nor effectively fought by our government until the Eisenhower-Nixon-Lodge team took charge. Under their leadership, America has kept its senses and kept the peace. So, somewhere between blindness to the dangers of communism and shoot-from-the-hip recklessness -- you deserve leaders with judgment and experience. And, if you believe that America isn't second rate, if you believe that third rate, worn-out ideas never solved any problems -- then speak up for America."

A report in today's newspapers says that Cuba claims it has defeated a rebel force encamped in the Escambray Mountains in central Cuba. Fidel Castro accused the United States of supplying the rebels. A statement issued by the Armed Forces Ministry, headed by Maj. Raul Castro, said that arms had been supplied to the rebels in a parachute drop on Sept. 29 "by a four-motor Yankee plane." Cuban forces captured the rifles, machine guns, bazookas, hand grenades, radios, ammunition, demolition equipment and medical supplies. "Such complete equipment could never be acquired clandestinely by arms smugglers and could only be obtained directly from the North American authorities," the statement said.

A New York Times editorial today on the possibility of admitting China to the UN argues that admission is inevitable but the United States should establish preconditions regarding Taiwan. "For the tenth consecutive year the General Assembly of the United Nations has barred Communist China from membership for at least another year. This action has been hailed as a victory for the United States. But before too much satisfaction is taken in the result, it should be noted that the margin of victory for the American position was smaller than it had ever been before. Moreover, some of our best friends abroad, nations whose devotion to democratic ideals cannot be questiotns, voted against us on this issue. Among them were Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Finland....

"The admission of Communist China to the United Nations without some specific guarantee of the independence of Taiwan from Communist domination, would confront us with a most difficult situation. We are pledged to defend Taiwan against Communist absorption and we must do all that we can to make certain that the United Nations does not confer on the Communist regime title to Taiwan, however it may vote on the admission of Peiping to the Assembly."